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Apple Interested in Purchasing Social Turn-by-Turn Navigation Company Waze? [Updated]
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and what's your point? I talked about how google ruins a lot of startups they acquire and you pop in to tell me that you love google maps.
No, those services arent free, google sells your data to make money, quit being a sheep. with the same logic, I can say iCloud is also free.
CORRECTION:
WAZE used to be amazing. Now I get ad popups that automatically redirect me to a d@mn fast food restaurant or whatever. I do not have time to be constantly hitting the "X" on their d@mn pop-ups while I am driving. I have gone back to Google Navigation because WAZE sucks so much right now!
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The bottom line is that the interface of either Apple navigation or Google navigation is a lot better than WAZE is right now. Waze used to be better but now has turned into a 1990's-style pron site with constant pop-up ads that you have trouble getting rid of.
I have been using google maps and it works great for me. And I've also use maps from apple I have not had any problems with that Either.
i guess it could be cool, but buying other companies isn't the answer Apple. you gotta do it yourself, and do it right this time
I bought MotionX to be my turn-by-turn navigation last year since the built-in Apple Maps didn't have TBT at the time. MotionX is great.
But I used Waze only when there was a traffic jam... to see how far ahead the traffic was.
I guess I could have used Waze for everything... I just never tried it.
Now with the new Apple Maps, and the new Google Maps... I've got many choices for TBT directions.
I might not renew MotionX this year.
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I love Waze too. I like how it reroutes against traffic, and how you can view/report police and hazards.
I would love for Waze to integrate deeper into iOS, like Apple's Maps does. Especially the part where it shows the directions on the lock screen!
If Apple buys it... they might take out the "report cops" feature.
I know they allow it now... but something tells me they might take that feature out if they owned it.
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Exactly.
I use Apple Maps for turn-by-turn because it looks good and works so well if you know the address.
And I use Google Maps if I'm searching for something on the road.
Plus... I can start a Google Maps search on the computer... and then pick it up on my iPhone.
I think it's better to have a couple tools at your disposal.
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But Waze is just one company Apple could buy to improve some of their problems.
Do you know how many companies Google bought over the years to improve their products?
I guess the question that has to be asked for Waze is how do they make money. The advertisement thing is new, but I imagine most users prefer it stays free with some ads then turn into a paid service. Especially since the app relies on crowd sourced data to be useful in the first place.
I don't think this would result in a net improvement - Waze relies on things that are completely outside of Apple's competency and ideology.
Meanwhile it shows that Apple still think there's some short term fix for Maps, other than just giving up and spending their resource on something they might actually be able to do.
It wouldn't dry up the data at all.
Drop Waze on Android, and integrate it into Apple Maps. Hey presto, you've transformed the userbase from "a few thousand who've downloaded the app" to "everyone who owns an iPhone".
If that were the case then Apple should have pretty good traffic information since all iOS (5+) users (can) share that data...
Think so. Apparently it looks like Apple considered buying any company that can help to solve the Maps fiasco. Foursquare, TomTom, now Waze.... Maybe even others in the future..
My thoughts
I believe Apple won't buy TomTom. TomTom is a product company. The real value would be TeleAtlas (digital map maker) that is a subsidiary to TomTom but Apple already have data deals with TomTom/TeleAtlas. TomTom is also based in the Netherlands and Apple right now hires map engineers in the US.
I believe Apple tried to buy Yelp but the founders valued the company higher than the bid. I don't think Apple wanted simply a data deal from the beginning because it doesn't make sense. Yelp data is in the map app but if you want to add a review, see pictures etc you are taken to the Yelp app. Far more complicated than Apple want it to be.
I do believe that Apple wants to buy Foursquare and Waze. Foursquare is doing something really interesting with deals and discounts. Waze is a social GPS app that would add a extra social dimension to Apples app. The focus for Apple should be to buy Yelp at any cost. If people are going to start adding reviews for restaurants etc it have to be really simple for the end user.
I believe Apple won't buy TomTom. TomTom is a product company. The real value would be TeleAtlas (digital map maker) that is a subsidiary to TomTom but Apple already have data deals with TomTom/TeleAtlas. TomTom is also based in the Netherlands and Apple right now hires map engineers in the US.
I believe Apple tried to buy Yelp but the founders valued the company higher than the bid. I don't think Apple wanted simply a data deal from the beginning because it doesn't make sense. Yelp data is in the map app but if you want to add a review, see pictures etc you are taken to the Yelp app. Far more complicated than Apple want it to be.
I do believe that Apple wants to buy Foursquare and Waze. Foursquare is doing something really interesting with deals and discounts. Waze is a social GPS app that would add a extra social dimension to Apples app. The focus for Apple should be to buy Yelp at any cost. If people are going to start adding reviews for restaurants etc it have to be really simple for the end user.
So u calling me a ship. Because, I'm telling you ... .?
Ok nevermind your so wicked (fanboys)
I'm really not to bic4i talk
Yeah also. I didn't mentioned any particular googles' free services apart from maps. But, sadly u end up with only iCloud. If you stop being a ship, you will know that how you getting "free" Apple's services.
So, google has to give everything away to please you?